Lorrie Struiff

Lorrie and I have been sitting in my lounge discussing how nice it is to just sit back for a an hour or so and relax. How many of us have the time to do it nowadays?


Hi Margaret, thanks for the invitation to your blog. I’m so happy to be here.
Well, it’s that time of year again, the hustle, the bustle, the parties, the food planning and the gift buying. Families gather to share the festivities. We start gift buying on Thanksgiving—or before—for the big day.
I don’t know about you readers, but by the time the holiday does arrive, I’m wishing it were over. In fact, I’m holidayed out way before the big day.
I get tired of the grandchildren yelling, “I want that, I want that” every time a toy ad is shown on TV.
Many of us would like a less commercialistic month, I’m sure.
But what do you do to make your holiday special? And I’m talking about you, personally. Something for yourself, something that gives you a warm glow inside and gives you the true feeling and meaning of what Christmas is all about.
There are so many things you can do.
Sometimes, I purchase a food gift card from the local grocery store and mail it to a needy family that I know--anonymously of course.
There may be an elderly couple I know whose children cannot come home for the holiday. I invite them to share my family and dinner for the day.
There is a handicapped person near who may need to get out shopping. I offer to take them.
There may be a shut-in living near. They appreciate a visit and some company.
There is so much more, but I’m sure you know what I mean.
Even the littlest of things you do can make you and the person feel good.
Help a neighbor carry groceries into their house.
Offer them a cup of hot coffee when they are hanging Christmas lights in the cold.
Shovel snow out of an elderly person’s driveway or sidewalk.
Haul out their garbage can for pickup day.
Do any of you remember when the “Pass on the Good Deed” card started and now seems to be out of fashion, or forgotten?
It was a card. You can make them on the computer that simply says, “You Owe One Good Deed.”
If you stopped to go out of your way for a stranger or friend, after you have helped them, you would give them the card. It would then be up to them to do a good deed and pass on the card. What a wonderful idea.
And wouldn’t it be wonderful, not only because of the holidays, but to make this a habit of at least one good deed a month? One card a month. Christmas glow for you for the whole year. Once a week?
Okay, I won’t get carried away. We all have such busy lives in today’s times, much pressure to bear. I’m sure most of you do a lot of the above mentioned anyway and I’m sort of speaking to the choir.
But, here, I’m talking about something different, something you don’t “normally” do.
Give of yourself, a little bit of your precious time. A good feeling inside goes a long way.
Hmm. I think I’ll make up some cards right now.


Before I go here is a taster for short story Wild Blackberries

Come along with Morgan for a roller coaster ride.
Morgan is researching on an Indian reservation in Prescott, Arizona, for her new paranormal novel. She doesn’t believe in the paranormal, but writes it for the trend and the nice royalties. That is until her soon to be divorced husband tries to kill her, and she survives by her wits and a little “strange” help.
Buy it here.
To see her reviews and all of her releases please visit her website,



While we are drinking coffee and eating our mince pies, here is her Christmas recipe.



Here is an easy, fast treat to whip up that can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and pulled out for a quick appetizer or set on the table surrounded by crackers for a “help yourself.”


Beef Spread
If you have leftovers from a roast, here is a spread that is sure to delight the taste buds of your guests. Quick and easy.

1/2 # of leftover cooked roast (or a bit more)--any cut
1 small jar of sweet pickles
1 small onion
1/2 of raw green pepper

Grind or (I use the food processor) all together. Then dump in bowl.
Mix in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Miracle Whip>>to taste.

Looks almost like pate', but the taste is great. Spread on Ritz crackers or saltines and serve as hors d'oeuvre, or put in a pretty bowl and surround with crackers.
Hint=this lasts very long refrigerated and also freezes well.




Blurb

Everyone has secrets.
Homicide Detective Rita Moldova has a secret, a crystal amulet from her Roma bloodline that shows her the last image a victim had seen before they died. Now, a ritual killer is terrorizing her town and the crystal’s magic has suddenly stopped.
FBI agent, Matt Boulet, is sent to lead the task force and gives the group strange orders. Worse, Rita senses he is holding back a deep dark secret about the killer.
When she confronts her seer mother’s advice, she learns another secret about their clan that she finds impossible to swallow.
Rita swims through a whirlpool of confusion as the investigation continues. Can Rita deny the lore of the ancients? Can she deny her growing feelings for Matt Boulet?
Gypsy Crystal is now available in print and Multi-Format e-book.